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The Chronicle Review Corner

We’ve previously praised the ethereal music of Östlund — so much so one of our reviews has made it to the sleeve on this CD — and this new one is different but equally good. The opening Concerto for Violin and Symphony Orchestra is more conventional and orchestral (courtesy Moscow Bow Tie Orchestra) and even dramatic in places, although it drifts towards the mystical unless steered away.

We’re not sure why (and there’ll be a good reason) but he samples the famous Dance of the Knights by Prokofiev. Aquarelle is dreamier, with flute and possibly harp while Morpheus Metamorphoses gets a little more dramatic, with faint stirrings of Knights. Paganini Fantasia is, as its name suggests, a take on Paganini’s 24th Caprice, better known as the Southbank Show theme.

Nocturnia closes and takes the sound more orchestral; as across all the CD Östlund has moments where he gets a little heavy but it always drifts back to the mystical. The sleeve notes say it’s meant to convey landscapes, stories, thoughts and dreams. It’s heftier and more ambitious than the previous music we’ve heard, and proves that Östlund can handle a larger orchestra, but he always manages to keep the sound intimate and approachable.

—Jeremy Condliffe

@divineartrecordingsgroup

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On 10 October, Métier is thrilled to present Michael Finnissy: Organ Works from acclaimed American organist Forrest Eimold! Don't miss Paul Hindmarsh's marvelous new piece in Classical Music Magazine on the importance of Britain's Brass Bands. A great primer for our new release, Discovering Wilfred Heaton! 3️⃣ Tracks from the 3 October release, Discovering Wilfred Heaton, are #nowplaying on Apple Music Classical and more! Don't miss both of our new Métier new releases on Deezer's New Classical Picks Playlist! ▶️ Listen now in our bio link. Today, Métier presents a “monumental” (The Wire) 4-disc box set from pianist Ian Pace in commanding performances of music by composer Michael Finnissy (b. 1946). On all platforms today at listn.fm/finnissypiano Métier Records is thrilled to release “Because They Have Songs” from composer Edward Cowie and featuring Gerard McChrystal and Richard Shaw! Out now on all platforms ▶️ listn.fm/becausetheyhavesongs “This monumental piano release features Michael Finnissy’s Verdi Transcriptions plus English Country-Tunes, and other compositions inspired by 19th century music. Soloist Ian Pace is a leading interpreter of Finnissy’s work, and has played his complete output for piano. Finnissy’s output is prolific, political and complex – he’s a leading late modernist.… luxuriant but challenging textures of the school often called new complexity.” —Andy Hamilton, The Wire Marvelous new MusicWeb International review for Edward Cowie: Because They Have Songs, before its release this Friday! “Buller is a composer who knows how to imbue feelings with ample warmth, colour and tension that keep the ear immersed in his sonic worlds. The musical language is largely tonal, with some roots in sacred choral traditions, yet with sufficient harmonic pungency to provide underpinnings of meaning to Leah Lax’s empathetic, urgent texts in the two extended works.… Conspirare, led by founding Artistic Director Craig Hella Johnson, respond to all of Buller’s emotional gestures with utmost cohesion and flexibility, and the soloists – basses Michael Hawes and Simon Barrad and soprano Emily Yocum Black – are first-rate.” —Donald Rosenberg, @gramophonemagazine “This performance will stay with me for a long time; it is both exquisitely beautiful and inherently melancholic.” —Edward Breen, Gramophone on Haitham Haidar's #Zaytoun